France Honors Clint Eastwood Again With French Legion Command
Iconic Hollywood tough guy actor and director Clint Eastwood, was awarded one of France’s highest honors on Friday, in recognition of his enormous contribution to the art of cinema. President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded the 79-year-old Eastwood with the rank of commander of the French Legion.
After receiving his French Legion command Eastwood quipped, “As a commander of the arts and letters, I think I will go out on the streets of France today and throw my weight around.”
It is unusual for a foreigner to be elevated to the rank of commander of the French Legion of Honor, but Eastwood is highly regarded in France for his portrayal in a host of films spanning half a century,and spends quite a lot of time in the European country. Two years ago, he was made a knight in the Legion of Honor. Friday’s accolade was a promotion to the third level of the Legion’s five grades.  Eastwood came to prominence as an actor in the 1966 film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Shortly and has an esteemed career as a director. His latest movie, Invictus, about Nelson Mandela and stars Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, is scheduled for release next month.
